Red Velvet's Full-Group Return Sparks Surge in Global and Domestic Buzz

Red Velvet is climbing fast on K-pop's industry charts as the group prepares for its first full-group return in more than two years. Both domestic and overseas attention have spiked in the days since the comeback was announced.

According to K-POPIT BOARD, the K-pop analytics platform, Red Velvet sits at No. 3 on the domestic Power Index with a score of 69.2 as of Thursday. The group also ranks No. 7 on the global Power Index with 64.6 points. The Power Index pulls from music charts worldwide, social media activity, and news coverage to measure overall presence. Red Velvet was not on the combined Power Index list just days earlier, making the jump unusually sharp.

The shift follows the group's comeback announcement on Monday. SM Entertainment confirmed that Red Velvet will release a new album in August, with Wendy and Yeri taking part alongside the other members despite leaving SM Entertainment last year. It will be the group's first full-group activity since "Cosmic," released in June 2024, roughly two years and two months ago.

One of the clearest signals of public interest is the D-layer score, which tracks non-fandom response. When that number passes 100 percent, it points to a sharp spike in general audience reaction. Red Velvet posted gains of more than 3,000 percent on both the global and domestic D-layer readings. The numbers suggest that casual listeners, not just longtime fans, are tuned in for the return.

The group's fandom health score landed at 68.7. Even with its 12th debut anniversary approaching, Red Velvet still draws steady spending power from its core base. The group will meet that base in person at a fan concert next summer. A poster shared through Red Velvet's official fan community and social media accounts shows the schedule for "2026 Red Velvet FAN-CON <A Day in Red & Velvet>," set for August 1 and 2 at Korea University's Hwajeong Gymnasium in Seoul. The opening night falls on Red Velvet's debut anniversary, giving members and fans a shared moment to mark 12 years together.

The numbers and the calendar point in the same direction. After more than two years apart, Red Velvet's return is landing as one of the most anticipated K-pop releases of the summer.